Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces extensive remodeling of the secretory apparatus to form the cytoplasmic virion assembly compartment (cVAC), where virion tegumentation and envelopment take place. We studied the structure of the cVAC by confocal microscopy to assess the three-dimensional distribution of proteins specifically associated with individual secretory organelles. In infected cells, early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1)-positive vesicles are concentrated at the center of the cVAC and, as previously seen, are distinct from structures visualized by markers for the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and trans-Golgi network (TGN). EEA1-positive vesicles can be strongly associated with markers for recycling endosomes, to a lesser extent with markers associated with components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport III (ESCRT III) machinery, and then with markers of late endosomes. In comparisons of uninfected and infected cells, we found significant changes in the structural associations and colocalization of organelle markers, as well as in net organelle volumes. These results provide new evidence that the HCMV-induced remodeling of the membrane transport apparatus involves much more than simple relocation and expansion of preexisting structures and are consistent with the hypothesis that the shift in identity of secretory organelles in HCMV-infected cells results in new functional profiles.

Pancreatic RNase injected into Xenopus oocytes abolishes protein synthesis at concentrations comparable to the toxin ricin yet has no effect on oocyte protein synthesis when added to the extracellular medium. Therefore RNase behaves like a potent toxin when directed into a cell. To explore the cytotoxic potential of RNase toward mammalian cells, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A was coupled via a disulfide bond to human transferrin or antibodies to the transferrin receptor. The RNase hybrid proteins were cytotoxic to K562 human erythroleukemia cells in vitro with an IC50 around 10(-7) M whereas greater than 10(-5) M native RNase was required to inhibit protein synthesis. Cytotoxicity requires both components of the conjugate since excess transferrin or ribonuclease inhibitors added to the medium protected the cells from the transferrin-RNase toxicity. Compounds that interfere with transferrin receptor cycling and compartmentalization such as ammonium chloride decreased the cytotoxicity of transferrin-RNase. After a dose-dependent lag period inactivation of protein synthesis by transferrin-RNase followed a first-order decay constant. In a clonogenic assay that measures the extent of cell death 1 x 10(-6) M transferrin-RNase killed at least 4 logs or 99.99% of the cells whereas 70 x 10(-6) M RNase was nontoxic. These results show that RNase coupled to a ligand can be cytotoxic. Human ribonucleases coupled to antibodies also may exhibit receptor-mediated toxicities providing a new approach to selective cell killing possibly with less systemic toxicity and importantly less immunogenicity than the currently employed ligand-toxin conjugates.

The effects of three monoclonal antibodies (B3/25, 43/31, and 42/6) reactive with human transferrin (Tf) receptors on growth of normal and malignant myeloid cells were examined using in vitro culture techniques. When added directly to cultures, all three antibodies caused dose-dependent inhibition of normal granulocyte/macrophage progenitor (CFU-GM) growth. Monoclonal antibody 42/6 was by far the most potent of the three, with an ID50 of less than 5 micrograms/ml. Identical effects were seen on CFU-GM from three patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Growth of colonies from two myeloid leukemia cells lines (KG-I, HL60) was also inhibited by all three antibodies, and these cells were generally more sensitive than normal CFU-GM. Blast colony-forming cells from three patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia were relatively resistant to the antibodies, and CFU-GM from a patient with myeloid metaplasia were resistant (ID50 greater than 50 micrograms/ml) to 42/6. In liquid culture, growth of the leukemic cell lines was inhibited by saturating concentrations of the three antibodies, although in both liquid and colony culture recovery was seen even after exposure to antibody for periods of up to 72 h. Analysis of the cell-cycle status of these cells showed that the antibodies did not cause accumulation of cells in any particular phase of the cell cycle. Addition to cultures of large quantities of human Tf failed to reverse the inhibitory effects of the antibodies. Competitive binding studies on the leukemia cell lines showed that only 42/6 inhibited binding of Tf to its receptor, although all three antibodies inhibited cell growth. Addition of Fe chelate (as ferric nitriloacetic acid, FeNTA) failed to reverse the inhibitory effects of the antibodies on CFU-GM and HL60 cells, but had variable effects on KG-I cell growth. FeNTA fully reversed inhibitory effects of 42/6 on KG-I cells. We conclude that monoclonal antibodies to Tf receptors can inhibit growth of both normal and malignant myeloid cells. Overall, no selectivity for malignant vs normal cells is apparent, although malignant cells from one individual were more sensitive to colony inhibition by 43/31 monoclonal antibody than normal CFU-GM.